Des Moines-based BrokerTech Ventures and founding company Holmes Murphy closed a co-leading funding effort to raise $4 million in capital for Highwing, a Denver-based insurtech company focused on changing data processing and management for brokers and carriers. Commercial insurance is expected to reach $900 billion by 2021. Highwing intends to use the $4 million in […]

Oscar, a New York City-based health insurtech company, announced it has partnered with MercyOne health system to offer Oscar’s individual and family health insurance plans in 23 counties in Iowa beginning in 2021, pending regulatory approval. These health plans are anticipated to be sold on the federal health insurance exchange, with coverage to begin on Jan. 1. […]

Registration is open now for the 2020 InsurTech Week, hosted virtually this year by the Global Insurance Accelerator on Oct. 12-16. Founders from 28 previous GIA cohort companies and 20 selected growth-stage companies will be highlighted during the week through the Hopin virtual event app, which will host live presentations, breakout room demos, virtual booths […]

The broker-led investor and acceleration program BrokerTech Ventures named former interim director Susan Hatten as chief operating officer, the group announced this week. Hatten joins Executive Director John Jackovin as the accelerator’s inaugural cohort began the five-week program last week. BrokerTech Ventures also announced the addition of five new investor partners: Heffernan Insurance Brokers, the Horton Group, […]

Two startup accelerators announced inaugural teams for their 2020 cohorts this week.  BrokerTech Ventures of Des Moines and Iowa EdTech Accelerator of Iowa City will both welcome startup founders on March 2 as founders begin the five-week program for BrokerTech and 14-week program for Iowa EdTech.  Twelve BrokerTech Ventures startups will operate in Gravitate Coworking […]

Kansas City-based Commerce Bank announced it has launched a real-time payments system aimed at enabling property-casualty insurers to provide faster, more convenient claims payments. The new product, CommercePayments PreferPay, provides customers, claimants and service providers with multiple claims payment options including ACH, check or direct-to-debit card via Visa Direct.  Commerce Bank partnered with Progressive Casualty […]

BrokerTech Ventures, a new broker-led insurance accelerator launched by Holmes Murphy in Des Moines, announced the hiring of John Jackovin as its new executive director this week. Jackovin most recently managed the Growth and Internal Services Product teams at fintech startup Dwolla in Des Moines. Jackovin previously led the Des Moines startup Bawte, which completed […]

Startups joining the Global Insurance Accelerator’s 2020 cohort will be the first cohort experiencing a newly revamped funding structure and a recently raised investment.  Startups will receive an investment of $75,000 through a post-money Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE), which converts to 5% of the startup. It’s an increased investment from the $40,000 the […]

Des Moines-based Rocket Referrals is on the 2019 Inc. 5000 annual list of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S., the company announced this week. Rocket Referrals, an insuretech startup automating the referral process for insurance agencies, was named at the 481 spot. It ranked 62 among all software companies in the U.S. and was the fastest-growing software […]

CEO and founder, Denim In 2015, Gregory Bailey – like many entrepreneurs – struck out and launched a startup from his Urbandale home. He had spent more than two decades in the corporate insurance world, including holding executive positions at Athene USA and Pacific Life. Now, his startup, Denim, operates from a bright, airy and […]